The Yorkton Fire Department raised $5000 for the Health Foundation February 3 to 5, helping to reach the Foundation's goal of $212,000 to fund the conceptual plan for a new regional hospital.
Ross Fisher, Executive Director of the Health Foundation said "The fire department was able to engage the entire community, and this was a great way to finish our fundraising campaign."
The Fire Department's campaign stayed true to the "over the top" theme by placing firefighters on the roof of the fire station for the entire 48 hour event. Members slept overnight in tents and lowered a boot over the side of the building to accept donations from the community. Neal Matechuk, co-coordinator of the event and fire fighters local president, said "it was a fun way to raise money for a great cause". Many fire fighters took part in the roof-top campaign, including new Deputy Fire Chief Greg Litvanyi. "This community came together and did a great thing, I feel privileged to have been a part of it", Litvanyi said.
During the campaign firefighters also sold hotdogs and did a "boot drive" on Broadway, as well as provided invaluable fire extinguisher use training to anyone who wanted it. "The fund raising was only part of our focus, using our new fire extinguisher training prop, delivering valuable training to approx 300 people was more than we could have asked," said Deputy Fire Chief Trevor Morrissey.
The fire department thanks the event sponsors, Harvest Meats, Perepeluk Construction, Yorkton Co-op, Yorkton Magnet signs, and all those who supported this campaign through donations and delivery of coffee and doughnuts to the campers.
